pains to make the momentary
pleasure as exquisite as possible, that the after suffering might be
more terrible; just like that ingenious Borderer who fed his enemy with
all pungent and highly-seasoned dishes, and then left him to die of
thirst.

Yet all the while her own feelings must have been scarcely enviable.
They say that great enchantresses, from Medea and Circe downward, have
generally been unhappy in their loves. Either they could not raise the
spirit, or it proved unmanageable; either their affection was not
returned, or its object was unfaithful at last. In the single case where
they put their science and their philtres aside, and were womanly, and
natural, and sincere; where, to gain or to keep their treasure, they
would gladly have broken their wand, they failed utterly, and found they
were only half omnipotent. The justice was retributive, but it was very
complete. Be sure, with those passionate natures, the honey of a
thousand triumphs never deadened the sting of the one discomfiture.
Suitors flocking from every shore and island of the AEgean never made
Sappho forget, for one hour, that stubborn impassible Phaon. No wonder
such are cruel and unjust to their subjects in after days. Poor innocent
AEgeus very often has to do penance for the infidelity of Jason.

I have little more to tell, and that is of the sort that is best told
briefly.

The hounds met one morning not far from Kerton. A three-days' frost had
broken up; but it was not out of the ground yet, making the "take-off"
slippery, and the north side of the fences dangerously hard. Livingstone
rode the Axeine that day. The chestnut was still his favorite, and the
crack hunter of three counties, though he had never lost his habit of
pulling.

It was a large, straggling cover that we drew, but the fox went away
very soon. From the lower end of the wood a great pasture sloped down,
at the bottom of which was a flight of post-and-rails--very high, new,
and strong, with a deep cutting on the farther side. At one end of this
was an open gate, through which the whole field passed.

The hounds were just settling to the scent, when I happened to turn my
head, and saw Livingstone coming down at the rails. He had got a bad
start, and saw that, by taking them straight in his line, he would gain
greatly on the pack, which was turning toward him.

As the Axeine tore down the hill at furious speed, pulling double, it
was evident that neither he nor his rider